Oil tanker strikes Memorial Bridge early Friday

The tanker "Seapride" was navigating down the Piscataqua River when it collided with one of the piers of the bridge, as it was raised to allow its passage, according to New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

U.S. Coast Guard continues to investigate the accident, which occurred around 5:20 a.m.

Fenders on the piers, which serve to protect the bridge, withstood the impact.

The Memorial Bridge operations were unaffected and the bridge remains open to vehicle traffic between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine.